My Opposition to the Proposed 2025-26 Budget

May 21, 2025

As of today, I intend to vote against the Buffalo Public Schools' proposed 2025-26 budget. We are facing another challenging budget, similar to last year, with a projected deficit of $78,800,000. However, most importantly, I cannot accept cutting 19 mental health professionals (11 counselors and 9 social workers and school psychologists), at a time that our students need them most.

Last year, I held my nose and voted yes on the budget after some proposed staff cuts were restored. I held my nose because I was skeptical about how the district was continuing to spend millions of dollars on outside programs and providers, one of those being Woz Ed.

Woz Ed certainly provides an enticing STEM curriculum and activities for our students. I am in no way opposed to providing our students with enriching STEM opportunities. In some schools, it has been implemented comprehensively and delivered positive learning experiences. I’m not, however, convinced that it has delivered district-wide as intended with an annual investment of over $3.9 million. Implementing this program districtwide was unrealistic from the beginning. I repeatedly hear about unused Woz Ed kits accumulating in schools, while taking up needed space, and RTI (Response to Intervention) periods being used for its implementation, just a few times per year. If deemed worthy by the appropriate professionals, this is a program that should be, at most, integrated into technology courses and/or some CTE programs.

Since 2021, we have spent over $8.5 million on Woz Ed and the district was initially proposing to fund Woz Ed next year at $3.9 million for a cumulative expenditure of $12,360,490 million. I am hard-pressed to find school staff and parents convinced that this costly investment has been worthwhile. What other curricular program has an annual price tag of $3.9 million?

According to last year’s Woz Ed budget, over 96% of the $3.9 million, paid for Woz Ed kits and materials. It is an expenditure that could fund over 28 teaching and/or mental health positions.

After some scrutiny, it has been recommended that the Woz Ed budget be reduced by $1.5 million, next year, and the remaining expenditure be covered by Title I grant funding, if approved by NYSED. However, I still can’t accept spending another dime on this program, let alone using Title I funds to do so.

The other program that I’ve grown skeptical about is Student Leadership Network, which has a mission to help students in diverse and underserved communities gain access to higher education. This is certainly a necessary and invaluable endeavor. However, it comes with a price tag of almost $1.5 million per year; most of it going to New York City where 50% of its staff are centrally located. With a projected expenditure of almost $1.5 million in next year’s budget for SLN, the cumulative expenditure to SLN since 2021 will be over $4.3 million. The program has certainly delivered for some students; however, I’ve seen an analysis that disputes the program’s impact districtwide. It also appears to be outsourcing responsibilities that counselors are more than capable of carrying out. The almost $1.5 expenditure could fund the 11 counselor positions that are projected to be cut next year.

I have heard from many parents and staff again about this year’s budget. They have primarily advocated for mental health professionals, reading teachers, and music teachers and music programming. Over 28,000 voters re-elected me in November and I believe that it is an obligation to value the input of my constituents when voting on an $1.2 billion budget. Unless something drastically changes, I will be voting no on the 2025-26 budget. I know full well that my position will likely result in attacks on my character, due to some being very personally invested in what I believe is not financially prudent and best for our schools and students.

Lastly, it’s important to know that the vote on the budget was expected to happen at our regular business meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, May 21. Disregarding the board’s bylaws and intentionally excluding board members, the meeting date was changed to May 28, a date when some board members have conflicts, potentially disenfranchising members from voting on the budget. Since this has occurred, pleas to at least compromise and hold a special meeting to vote on the budget, when all board members are present, have not yet been heard.

I welcome any feedback on the budget to the email address below.

Larry Scott

Vice President of Student Achievement

Member-at-Large

Buffalo Board of Education

Lawrencescott19@gmail.com